The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-10
THEN AND NOW.
Some Church choIrs-E Past and
Present.

The recent death in New York of Mr.. w.
H. Beckett, has recalled to the minds of
some people, the beginning of his career as
vocalist. nearly thirty years ago, and also,
perhaps of some of his contemporaries.
About the first of his public engage
ments, we think, was at High street church
in the quintette with Miss Atwood, soprano.
Mrs. Fred Ring, contralto, Mr.. John Morgan,
tenor, and Mr. Z. p. Haines, bass, with that
we'll remembered and talented gentleman,
Henry S. Edwards presiding at the organ.
| 1t was well understood, in those days that
to hear the finest church music, one should
attend the High street or the First Parish.
where then, as now, Mr.. Kotzschmar presid-
ed with that genius, which has been such
large factor in the growth of music as fine
art, in our city in later years.
The quartette in the First Parish choir at
that time was Miss Cammett, now Mrs.
Wetherbee), Miss Usher. NOW Mrs. Judge
Webb and Messrs. Samuel Thurston and
VIM. II. bennett The latter gentleman
has now for some years been the celebrated
instructor of vocal music in this city.
A little prior to this time of which we are
speaking, young man had come to Portland
almost unknown where talents as musician
and success as teacher, were beginning
to be recognized and appreciated, and today
the name Of Mr.G.W .Marston as composer of
both sacred and secular music is known and
appreciated better, if possible, abroad than
at home.
During this time the Third Parish Church
long since passed into history, had -four
ishing chorus choir at one time conducted by
the somewhat eccentric Prof Crouch His
anger would now and then be kindled by
| the perplexities of the music in rehearsal,
and finally becoming completely exasper-
ated, he would send his book flying across
the church, followed by vigorous anath-
ema
The State Street Church also had a chorus
under the direction Of Mr.. r. c. Pennell, the
organist, now of Lewiston. Mrs. G. w.
Pierce was the soprano soloist and Miss
Mary Jose, who had beautiful voice, the
contralto.
The First Universalist Church, then at
the corner of Congress and Pearl streets,
had fine quartette conducted by Mr., John
| Shaw, with his estimable wife as orgauist.
1t was here we think, at little later period,
| that the lady who is now Mrs. G. II. Farley
came from her home in the central part of
| the State, and together with Mrs. Humphrey
| nee Miss Atwood and Mr.. Morgan formed
| this quartette.
The st. Stephens Church on Pearl, near
Middle street, then quite recently remodeled
and provided with a new organ, had its
| choir, as had also the Old Federal Street
| The Second Parish, then on Middle street.
| had quartette with Mr.. j. K. Gilman as or
| ganist, and Mrs. Gilman, Miss Hall, Robert
| Larrabee and A. G. Means were the quar-
tette.
But the many changes which time always
brings have almost completely substituted
| others for those we have mentioned in the
church choirs of Portland, yet the two first
/ mentioned choirs through all these years
have maintained the superior excellence of
| their music. Mr.. Kolzschmar and Mr.
Thurston at the First Parish are all that re-
main in the positions they then occupied
Miss Young, Miss Rice and Mr.. Shaw COM
plete the quartette- High street. with re-
modelled church, has Mr.. ii. G. Duncan,
organist and director, Mrs. Fellows, Miss
Long, Messrs. Follansbee and Barnard are
| the quartette.
| The choir of the First Universalst church
since moving in 1865 to the new edifice have
have brought Mr.. Marston again to the or
| gan and dictatorship, with Miss Clara Mer-
| rill, Mrs. Morrison, Messrs. Duncan and
| Herne as the quartette.
The State street church long since dis
| pensed with their chorus, and for twelve
| years ending last May retained Mr.. Marston
| as organist and director, with Mrs. Chase,
Mrs. Goudy, Messrs. Stockbridge and Coyle
as the Quartette. Mr.. Marston and Mrs.
| Goudy retired at that time, and Mr.. Harvey
Murray and Mrs. Sturgis came.
The st. Stephens church, with
| its changed location, has for its
musical director Mr.. John Morgan,
whose taste and skill as such, ARE well known.
| The Episcopal service, however, precludes
| the use of much of the music that is popular
with other choirs. At ST. Luke's Cathedral,
| the boy choir has become an agreeable and
| pronounced feature, and the talented organst
and conductor, Mr.. Walter Goold, is already
| known abroad as composer of several pop
ular light operas.
/ OF the other church choirs of the present
| day there are none of them which appear to
| have had prominent place In the history Of
| the past, yet there is one of them, and the
| youngest of all in date of organization that
deserve mention here, for the Williston
Church choir have won for themselves a
place in the front rank with those of other
| churches.
| In looking back over these past years, we
| think it will be conceded that excellent as
has been the church music Of the past, it has
made great advances, and perhaps those
looking back generation hence will find
still greater attachments of which to be
proud.